Grey Cup storylines include Argo GM's job

Scott Milanovich, centre, the newly named head coach of the Toronto Argonauts CFL football team, poses with Argos' general manager Jim Barker, left, and president Bob Nicholson during a news conference announcing Milanovich's hiring in Toronto Thursday, December 1, 2011.

Photograph by: Darren Calabrese
, National Post

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Now that his team had advanced to the 100th Grey Cup game, Jim Barker was asked if he believed speculation around his job security with the Toronto Argonauts would finally stop swirling around the city?

The general manager paused, and took a breath.

"No," Barker deadpanned.

The candour surprised the questioner, the host of Sports Net 590 The Fan, who started to laugh.

Barker is nearing the end of his second season as general manager in Toronto, where the Argonauts will host the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League title game Sunday. Questions were raised about his future earlier this month, though, when the team extended the contract of his head coach (Scott Milanovich), but not his own.

"I'll continue to (work) every day until they make the decision that they want somebody else to lead it," Barker said. "And when they do that, then I move on. I'm at the point in my career now where I don't worry about that."

That shouldn't stop anybody else from talking about it, though, especially not during the week leading up to the big game, which is the CFL's annual allotment of time to spend at centre stage of the Canadian sports discussion.

Here are five more storylines up for discussion this week:

A rookie head coach

It has been a rough century for rookie head coaches in Toronto. John Huard never made it to Labour Day in his first season, in 2000, because his players quit on him and his bizarre methods. Rich Stubler, a popular, longtime defensive co-ordinator, only lasted 10 games before he was fired, in 2008. And Bart Andrus, who went 3-15 in his only season, has not been heard from since he was run out of town three years ago.

And so here is Milanovich, a longtime assistant in Montreal who guided Toronto to a 9-9 regular-season record, a first-round playoff win and, on Sunday, a come-from-behind win over mentor Marc Trestman in Montreal. Next up? Another veteran: John Hufnagel.

Stampeders' star power

In the West Division final, Calgary tormented what was allegedly the stingiest defence in the league. The Lions conceded an average of only 237.3 passing yards a game during the regular season -- best in the league -- but allowed Stampeders quarterback Kevin Glenn to throw for 303 yards Sunday.

Stampeders running back Jon Cornish rushed for 112 yards, about 35 yards more than the Lions gave up on average. (Cornish has been held to 39 and 43 yards, respectively, in two games against Toronto this year.)

Toronto has won both meetings between the teams this season. In the first game, on July 7, Argos quarterback Ricky Ray threw for a personal season-best 407 yards in a 39-36 win at Rogers Centre. In the second meeting, on Aug. 18, he threw for 316 yards in a 22-14 win in Calgary.

"Once the playoffs start, I think the records, head-to-head, it's all out the window," Milanovich said. "This is one game. It's going to be 60 minutes for the 100th Grey Cup, and I don't think any of that matters at this point."

Familiarity on both sides

Before Chris Jones signed on with the Argos -- under one of the longest job titles in the CFL: "assistant general manager/assistant head coach/defensive co-ordinator" -- he was a member of the coaching staff in Calgary. Argos general manager Jim Barker spent the better part of a decade in Calgary before landing in Toronto two years ago.

Argos receiver Ken-Yon Rambo was a star with the Stampeders for seven seasons, twice gaining more than 1,100 receiving yards. It should all make for intriguing film study.

The circus rolls in

On Monday, it was a re-creation of the 1950 Grey Cup, the so-called "Mud Bowl," where a local firefighting crew flooded the football field at an east-end Toronto high school for a series of muddy flag football games accompanied by live local television coverage. (The Argos will re-sod the field in the spring.)

On Tuesday, there will be a pep rally. On Wednesday, the real Grey Cup schedule begins, with team breakfasts, hordes of media and more attention than either team is accustomed to seeing during the year. Oh, and it is the 100th anniversary game. No big deal.

Scott Milanovich, centre, the newly named head coach of the Toronto Argonauts CFL football team, poses with Argos' general manager Jim Barker, left, and president Bob Nicholson during a news conference announcing Milanovich's hiring in Toronto Thursday, December 1, 2011.

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